The Bride of the Serpent is Silent

After Sui Long's sudden departure from her chambers, Jing Li sat at the table for a long while. The teapot, cups, and boxes of sweets, remaining untouched on the polished wooden surface. Jing Li did not take another bite from the half eaten chestnut cake on the plate in front of her, nor did she move from the seat that accompanied the set of elegant furnishings next to the window as she became encapsulated in her quiet musings.

Adopting the attitude of a moonflower as she patiently awaited the slow decline of the sun. Jing Li felt almost certain that the god was not likely to return following his vehement exit. Recalling how she had observed the vague flash of a golden yellow appear in Shui Long's irises before he had turned from her. She wondered after their curious color for a prolonged instant, before attempting to distract herself with the birds that floated freely past the scope of the window. Her quiet reflection eventually interrupted as the maids, who returned to clear the items from the table. The little maid named Xiao Yu, who had helped to nurse Jing Li back to health addressed her silence with some consideration. 

"Don't fret too much about it." she said. Obviously interpreting her Mistress's stillness to be despair, Xiao Yu added, "The Consort of the Orchid Pavilion is always stirring up trouble for Lord Shui Long's attention. It is unreasonable to expect a sick person to uphold the tradition of greeting the First Consort." The girl huffing these complaints regarding the courtesan's difficult personality, Jing Li felt herself mildly responsible for Xiao Yu's exasperation. Aware that her illness had inconvenienced the water god and many of the estate's residents. Jing Li regretted that the affliction had resulted in the neglect of the etiquette and obligations that were expected of her new role.

Although acknowledging that she was vastly unprepared to meet the demands of the position that had been thrust upon her, Jing Li knew that she must address the various setbacks she had encounter thus far if she was to remain. However, in order to accomplish this, Jing Li would need to make an effort to embrace the customs of the realm in which she now found herself. Driven by the determination that this thought inspired in her, Jing Li pointed to a white orchid that was placed in one corner of the room. Xiao Yu's gaze traveling between Jing Li's hand and the flower, it was evident that the meaning of the gesture was not understood at first.

However, as revulsion soon replaced bewilderment on the young maid's face once she came to realize what was meant by the motion. Xiao Yu's mouth scrunching up as though it had tasted something bitter, she asked, "Are you sure you want to go there?" The mere notion of the request to visit the Orchid Pavilion, making the lady's maid uncomfortable. Jing Li held her ground as she returned an affirmative nod in response to Xiao Yu's aversion. Although conscious that the belated greeting was not likely to repair the offense caused to the First Consort by not visiting her sooner or ease the friction between their two characters. Jing Li felt that to ignore this obligation further would only worsen her situation in future.

Not knowing much about the Mistress of the Orchid Pavilion, other than what Xiao Yu had mentioned and the acutely passive aggressive greeting she had received earlier in the afternoon. Jing Li could assume much about the woman's character but refrained from forming baseless judgments on this scarce information alone as her maid continued to regard her skeptically. Xiao Yu's mouth still twisted with the anxiety that this proposed interaction presented, she eventually emitted a defeated sigh. Obvious that all hope she held of dissuading Jing Li from visiting the Orchid Pavilion was now lost, the young maid responded, "I suppose you could go to greet Consort Lu Qi tomorrow morning if you're feeling up to it." Offering her lady's maid, a little smile to in gratitude for this exasperated reply. Jing Li was to make no more unreasonable demands of her as she finished recuperating the rest of the tea set from the table. 

Certain that tomorrow's encounter promised to be uncomfortable if not mildly excruciating, Jing Li finally retired back to the part of her chambers where her bed was situated. Praying during the night that the dread of the prospective meeting would be more severe than the undertaking of the task itself, she was to suffer her first restless night in the Lotus Pavilion. Stirred by the knowledge of the errors she had made, Jing Li's thoughts digressed into a seemingly endless rabbit hole of possible offenses she had unwittingly committed during her short time here. Managing to derive some solace from the recognition that she was human; and therefore, only capable of correcting one mistake at a time. Jing Li was finally able to drift off to sleep within the early hours of the morning. 

Her anxieties, enough to motivate Jing Li to awaken that day, in spite of the insufficient amount of rest she had received. The maids scrutinized her condition carefully over breakfast. However, finding no reason to detain Jing Li from presenting her greeting to the Mistress of the Orchid Pavilion any longer. They dressed her diligently in a light pink hanfu, which complimented her pale skin. The garment, nice enough to be perceived as respectful, but not elaborate enough to present any threat of upstage the courtesan in her own residence. The circles beneath Jing Li's eyes were finally dusted with a thin layer of makeup before she was made to depart from the Lotus Pavilion.

Her feet squeezed back into the restrictive footwear she had endured during her first day there. Jing Li shuffled along behind the two maids who were sent to accompany her on the considerable trek to the Consort's household. The lady's maids assigned to her household, learning that Jing Li was incapable of outing them for their idle chatter. She was not to begrudge them of their relentless gossip as they went about their journey. Recounting tales about the Mistress of the Orchid Pavilion more candidly than they might have done had Jing Li not been a silent bystander in their discussion. She would hear of the First Consort's habit of terrorizing the employees of her pavilion with her wild temper and changeable moods on their slow walk.

Feeling moderately assured that her initial assumption that Lu Qi might be interpreted as a difficult, albeit passionate individual. Jing Li was sure that there were others who might admire the consort's loyalty to Shui Long and the unwavering confidence that she had invested in herself. However, she did not have time to form other conclusions by the time the small group of women had arrived at the impressive entryway to the Orchid Pavilion. Her breathing agitated by the long walk that they had embarked upon under the sun, Jing Li did her best to settle this observed weakness before crossing over the building's threshold.

The foyer, occupied by metal herons, which were frozen in various stances. They preened their polished feathers amongst large enamel vases and trees whose roots had nearly escaped from the immense pots that attempted to confine them. The dark purple tiles of the entry hall, leading up to a grand wooden staircase that branched off into two separate directions. There were tapestries and leagues of fabric lining the walls of the reception hall in every direction as they were approached by a young woman. The lady's maid presence almost easily overlooked amidst the sizeable collection, she fixed them with an icy glare.

The woman not extending the courtesy of a bow towards Jing Li or her lady's maids, she stated, "I have been sent to take you to my Mistress. Please, follow me." The maid, turning curtly from them as she proceeded down a corridor that had been hidden behind a length of the cloth decorating the room. The two women accompanying her, exchanged looks of annoyance with one another in order to note their clear abhorrence for the disrespect that the maid had shown towards their new Mistress. However, thankfully refraining from passing any comment on this behavior, they advanced silently tdown the hall.

Not particularly surprised that the members of the Orchid Pavilion should align their opinions with those expressed by their Mistress. This cold reception lived up to the minimum expectations Jing Li had set for her first encounter with the consort that held the most sway within Shui Long's estate. Accepting that she must earn the favor of others aside from the god of Xilian Lake as long as she was to remain his bride, Jing Li did what life had always taught her. Meeting ridicule with patience and contempt with the what grace nature could provide her. Jing Li knew that she was not in any position to demand the respect of others, but at least appreciated the ability to hold steadfastly to these facets of her personality. 

Thankful that her life until now had been kind enough to equip her with the tolerance to endure the derision and hatred of others, Jing Li followed her churlish guide into the parlor. The room, filled with sumptuous furnishings, lacquered tables with elaborate inlays, and garnished in rich fabrics with shimmering trims. None of these objects seemed capable of diminishing the imposing presence of the woman that sat amongst them. Her mature body draped in dark purple silks which appeared to draw further attention to the consort's seductive curves as she leaned upon the arm of settee. Jing Li stopped to bow respectfully in the direction of the courtesan's proud figure. 

The woman's dark irises emphasized by streaks of black lines and the plum colored eyeshadow that encompassed her eyes, they reviewed her haughtily for a while before she spoke.

"You certainly are a dumb and fragile thing, aren't you." she declared, apparently unimpressed by the new bride's appearance. The sting of these words reduced by the frequency in which Jing Li had heard them. Witnessing the cruel intentions these insults so many times that she had nearly grown deaf to them now. Jing Li only perceiving the pinch of the blisters on her feet as she straightened herself from her bow. Not invited to sit amongst the cushions of one of the many varied furnishings which surrounded them.

Jing Li was forced to stand dumbly for some time before the Consort was to address her again. The woman's painted lips curving into a mild form of distaste, Lu Qi slouched further into her reclined position on the sofa. A sigh of disappointment escaping her, she said, "You really don't utter a word, do you?" Sensing the consort's exasperation towards her pronounced lack of speech, Jing Li tilted her chin downward in a feeble confirmation that Lu Qi's impression of her condition had been correct. 

Although appearing markedly bored by the development. The consort was seemed perfectly capable of enjoying the sound of her own voice as she persisted in her dialogue, "Oh well, I suppose that gives us an excuse not to converse often then." Aware that the two of them were not ever likely to become friends due to the rivalry that was inherently implied by their positions. Jing Li could not admit to being disappointed by the courtesan's overt desire to avoid repeating the exercise of these awkward encounters. However, certain that Lu Qi had not gone through the trouble of summoning her here only to disparage her character. 

Jing Li still waited for the slow admission of the consort's motives to reveal itself as she embarked upon an extravagant monologue. Her lips already curling from the knowledge that she possessed, the courtesan asked smugly, "Do you know who I entertained in my chambers last night?" Although believing herself to have a slight inkling towards the answer. Jing Li chose to indulge the consort in her childish game rather than to confess her astute nature. Shaking her head in an indication of her ignorance in this matter, this reaction only provoked a more obvious expression of superiority as the consort revealed the answer.

"Shui Long departed here only moments prior to your arrival." said Lu Qi, playing with a lock of her silver hair. Unable to say for certain whether the consort could be trusted enough not to distort the facts of what had actually occurred between herself and the water god. Jing Li was not particularly shocked to discover that Shui Long had spent time in the company of a trusted consort or jealous of the fact that he might prefer Lu Qi's companionship to her own. However, it was what the courtesan said next that was to unsettle Jing Li. 

Twirling the long strands around her finger whilst pretending to ignore Jing Li's existence entirely, she remarked, "I suppose it's only natural for Shui Long to seek me out though. When his new bride has made it clear that she is not fit to consummate their union." Although acknowledging the truth that her illness had prevented them from performing the rituals of a couple after the ceremony, prior to this point. Jing Li had not come to the realization that her failure was to be widely known by the members of the vast estate until now. The new bride's cheeks flush with her embarrassment. They had nearly turned the same hue as her robes as Lu Qi spoke again. 

"You would do us both a service to carry out your duties." she said. Seemingly deriving some satisfaction out of provoking a rise from the meek human, the courtesan still twisted the soft ends of her hair between her digits as she added, "That way I would no longer be forced to look upon your pathetic face." Jing Li, assuming that she was destined to carry out a life sentence in Shui Long's service or at least until she was deemed to be no longer necessary, displaying some obvious confusion towards this statement. Lu Qi was amused to review the perplexity of expression as she chortled a reply, "Oh dear, no one has told you?" Pausing so that she might savor the feeling of lording her knowledge over Jing Li for a moment longer, the consort was to finally admit, "Shui Long returns his human brides, after they have fulfilled their purpose."